Anatomy and Physiology
Core concepts
A medical assistant must know the body's organization from cell to system, the language of body planes (sagittal, frontal, transverse) and directional terms (superior/inferior, proximal/distal, medial/lateral), and the major systems: integumentary, musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, respiratory, digestive, urinary, endocrine, nervous, reproductive, and lymphatic/immune. Emphasize the function that pairs with each structure - the alveoli exchange gases, the nephron filters blood, the sinoatrial node initiates the heartbeat, the pancreas has both endocrine (insulin, glucagon) and exocrine (digestive enzymes) roles. Homeostasis, negative feedback, and the roles of blood components are high-yield.
Traps in questions
- Directional confusion: proximal means closer to the point of attachment, not closer to the heart in every context; distal is farther away.
- Plane mix-ups: a sagittal plane divides left and right; a frontal (coronal) plane divides front and back.
- System overlap: the pancreas and gonads appear in both endocrine and reproductive/digestive contexts; read the stem for which function is being tested.
- Vessel naming: arteries carry blood away from the heart, but pulmonary arteries carry deoxygenated blood - a favorite reversal trap.
- Feedback direction: most body control is negative feedback (a change is counteracted); oxytocin in labor is the classic positive-feedback exception.
Rule of thumb
When a stem describes a structure, ask two questions: where is it, and what does it do? Most distractors swap the function of a neighboring organ (e.g., attributing bile production to the gallbladder rather than the liver).
Worked example
Stem: 'Which structure filters blood to form urine?' The functional unit is the nephron; the bladder stores urine and the ureter transports it. Match function to unit, not to the organ's general region.